Marcella Arlene (Tungland) Oatts (2011)

OATTS, TUNGLAND, TUCKER, ENGLESON, PEARSON, EMERY

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 5/12/2011 at 17:48:27

Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa
May 11, 2011

MARCELLA OATTS

Marcella Arlene Oatts, 85, passed away May 9, 2011 at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa surrounded by her four children, Jim, Dick, Sue, Nancy and family. Marcella was born May 18, 1925 in Story County near Roland, Iowa to Adolph and Carrie Tungland.

The Depression hit her large family hard after they moved to Jackson, Minnesota and she was forced to leave her family at age 10 to live with relatives in Garden City, Iowa to complete her education. She was an excellent speller and enjoyed drawing and roller-skating. Marcella took Normal Training to become a teacher and taught in a one-room school for a year. She worked as a welder of airplane parts during WWII at Solar Aircraft in Des Moines, Iowa until she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was hospitalized for two years. Just prior to her release, she heard that Jack Oatts who graduated two years before her at Radcliffe High School had also contracted tuberculosis while serving in the Navy, and was discharged to a hospital in Des Moines. Marcella began regular visits and upon his release, they were married at St. John's Lutheran Church in Des Moines on September 22, 1949.

They settled in Des Moines and after the birth of their third child, relocated to Earlham where Jack began what would become a storied career in Jazz Education. Marcella was busy raising four children before they relocated to Jefferson in 1966. She worked for Dr. J. K. Johnson for 18 years as an office manager. She was considered the first Jazz Mom of Iowa because she was so supportive of her husband, children, grandchildren, and the numerous music students Jack taught through the years. She enjoyed listening to music everyday.

Marcella is survived by her children, sons Jim (Lori) Oatts of Urbandale, IA, Dick Oatts of Congers, NY; daughters Sue Tucker of St. Paul, MN and Nancy Oatts (John Mosca) of New York, NY and her grandchildren Sam (Jane) Oatts, Jackie Tucker, Chris, Jeff and Eric Oatts, Jack, Henry and Alaina Oatts and many nieces and nephews.

Marcella was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Oatts, sisters, Thea Engleson, Judith Pearson and Sarah Emery; and brothers, John, Amos, Ernest, Irvin, Robert and Tom Tungland.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson, Iowa on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 11 a.m. A luncheon reception is planned to follow the service at the Jefferson Elks Lodge.

Memorials may be directed to her family to be decided at a later date for an education fund for children in need.

Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home of Jefferson www.sliningerrossowfuneralhome.com.

Transcriber's Note: Marcella and Jack Oatts were residents of Earlham, Madison County, Iowa when connected with the Earlham schools.